News
Organized from the Inside
Teamster local unions are fighting back against right-to-work laws by signing up more members, while other locals are combatting the latest threats against organized labor, the Janus case, by getting public-sector workers to recommit to their union.
At Local 509 in West Columbia, S.C., stewards and members helped sign up nearly 350 workers between January 1 and December 1 of 2017.
“That’s our members signing up members,” said James Todd, Local 509 President.
Local union representatives also visit work sites to talk to nonmembers to educate them about the importance of the union and the benefits workers receive.
The local has membership cards filled out and all that the worker needs to do is sign it and insert his or her Social Security number.
“After hearing about the union benefits and getting their questions answered, almost every worker signs the card,” Todd said. “A lot of these new folks aren’t aware of the benefits of being a Teamster. We have signed up 150 new members this way.”
Between the two programs, Local 509 has gained about 500 new members over an 11-month period, with many of the workers from UPS. “I’m optimistic we’ll pick up a couple hundred new members during the first half of 2018,” Todd said.
Like Local 509, Local 728 in Atlanta has focused on internal organizing, which has contributed to the local increasing its membership from about 5,700 members in 2005 to about 9,000 today.
“We’re bucking the national trends and the trends here in Georgia by growing our local and our internal organizing efforts, especially at UPS, have helped us tremendously,” said Randy Brown, President of Local 728. “We continually reach out to our members, educating them and engaging them. By increasing worker density, we win stronger contracts and workers gain a stronger voice on the job.”
Race to 100
In another big victory against right to work, 100 percent of the ABF Freight System bargaining unit members at the Memphis, Tenn. terminal have signed up as members of Local 667.
“The last worker had been holding out but thanks to the efforts of his co-workers, he is now a member, making the unit of about 90 drivers, dockworkers and office staff 100-percent Teamsters,” said James Jones III, President of Local 667. “I am proud of all our ABF Teamsters. This is a great feat in our union’s fight against right to work.”
“By being 100-percent Teamsters, this gives all our ABF workers a stronger voice on the job,” Jones said. “With all the anti-worker, anti-union forces we are up against, we need to organize and build Teamster power.”
In the wake of the victory at ABF, Local 667 is launching a campaign to fully organize other work locations.
The effort is called “The Race to 100.” The local has also signed up 100 percent of the package-car drivers at the UPS Oak Haven center in Memphis, and several other work sites are close to 100 percent.
“To many workers, the benefits of being members may not immediately be obvious, but we plan to educate our members about the importance of joining the union and building worker power,” Jones said. “This is all about fighting for a more secure future for our members and their families.”
“I am proud of my co-workers for all being united and strong here at ABF,” said Bob Watkins, chief steward. “Together, we can work as one group and have a stronger voice to address the issues that matter to all of us.”
Court Battles
Local 320 in Minnesota’s Twin Cities represents public-sector workers and has successfully signed up nearly 90 percent of the workers to recommit their membership. The campaign, begun in 2015, has brought stability to the members and to the local.
“Our volunteer member organizers and stewards have made contact with as many members as possible,” said Brian Aldes, Local 320 Secretary-Treasurer. “We have educated members through our website, social media and our ‘action alert’ system and put out information about the Janus case and its impact on workers and the local union.”
The case, Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, deals with an Illinois state government employee who doesn’t want to pay fair-share fees covering contract bargaining and representation activities allowed as part of the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act.
The case is expected to touch on many of the same issues raised in another case, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, where the Supreme Court was largely expected to side with plaintiffs last year. However, the court ultimately deadlocked on the case after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia left the court with only eight members.
Local 320 is also continuing to reach out to its fair-share members, is conducting monthly new-member orientation programs at the local and is hosting right-to-work trainings across the state.
“We have all kinds of programs that we’re putting into place to make sure we’re organized from the inside,” said Aldes, who noted that the local is also focusing on 2018 because it’s such an important election year in Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the Public Services Division’s national Power-Building Plan is assisting locals in contacting and communicating with all fair-share payers across the country.
Local 117 in Seattle is also preparing for the Janus decision.
“We’ve got a 9,000-member internal organizing campaign that we’re running,” said John Scearcy, Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer. “We set up a website for the campaign that has an online pledge form, member stories, information about Janus and who is backing the case, and resources. We’re out in the field talking with members, training member leaders, distributing commitment cards and other activities.”
Sara Parcells, a building and grounds worker at the University of Minnesota, is one of the members who recommitted her membership to Local 320. She has worked at the university for 16 years.
“Being a Teamster is very important for my family,” said Parcells, a single mother with two children, 12 and 7. “It’s my livelihood. It’s what helps me get a good paycheck and benefits. Health care is very important for my family.”
Teamster local unions are fighting back against right-to-work laws by signing up more members, while other locals are combatting the latest threats against organized labor, the Janus case, by getting public-sector workers to recommit to their union.
At Local 509 in West Columbia, S.C., stewards and members helped sign up nearly 350 workers between January 1 and December 1 of 2017.
“That’s our members signing up members,” said James Todd, Local 509 President.
Local union representatives also visit work sites to talk to nonmembers to educate them about the importance of the union and the benefits workers receive.
The local has membership cards filled out and all that the worker needs to do is sign it and insert his or her Social Security number.
“After hearing about the union benefits and getting their questions answered, almost every worker signs the card,” Todd said. “A lot of these new folks aren’t aware of the benefits of being a Teamster. We have signed up 150 new members this way.”
Between the two programs, Local 509 has gained about 500 new members over an 11-month period, with many of the workers from UPS. “I’m optimistic we’ll pick up a couple hundred new members during the first half of 2018,” Todd said.
Like Local 509, Local 728 in Atlanta has focused on internal organizing, which has contributed to the local increasing its membership from about 5,700 members in 2005 to about 9,000 today.
“We’re bucking the national trends and the trends here in Georgia by growing our local and our internal organizing efforts, especially at UPS, have helped us tremendously,” said Randy Brown, President of Local 728. “We continually reach out to our members, educating them and engaging them. By increasing worker density, we win stronger contracts and workers gain a stronger voice on the job.”
Race to 100
In another big victory against right to work, 100 percent of the ABF Freight System bargaining unit members at the Memphis, Tenn. terminal have signed up as members of Local 667.
“The last worker had been holding out but thanks to the efforts of his co-workers, he is now a member, making the unit of about 90 drivers, dockworkers and office staff 100-percent Teamsters,” said James Jones III, President of Local 667. “I am proud of all our ABF Teamsters. This is a great feat in our union’s fight against right to work.”
“By being 100-percent Teamsters, this gives all our ABF workers a stronger voice on the job,” Jones said. “With all the anti-worker, anti-union forces we are up against, we need to organize and build Teamster power.”
In the wake of the victory at ABF, Local 667 is launching a campaign to fully organize other work locations.
The effort is called “The Race to 100.” The local has also signed up 100 percent of the package-car drivers at the UPS Oak Haven center in Memphis, and several other work sites are close to 100 percent.
“To many workers, the benefits of being members may not immediately be obvious, but we plan to educate our members about the importance of joining the union and building worker power,” Jones said. “This is all about fighting for a more secure future for our members and their families.”
“I am proud of my co-workers for all being united and strong here at ABF,” said Bob Watkins, chief steward. “Together, we can work as one group and have a stronger voice to address the issues that matter to all of us.”
Court Battles
Local 320 in Minnesota’s Twin Cities represents public-sector workers and has successfully signed up nearly 90 percent of the workers to recommit their membership. The campaign, begun in 2015, has brought stability to the members and to the local.
“Our volunteer member organizers and stewards have made contact with as many members as possible,” said Brian Aldes, Local 320 Secretary-Treasurer. “We have educated members through our website, social media and our ‘action alert’ system and put out information about the Janus case and its impact on workers and the local union.”
The case, Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, deals with an Illinois state government employee who doesn’t want to pay fair-share fees covering contract bargaining and representation activities allowed as part of the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act.
The case is expected to touch on many of the same issues raised in another case, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, where the Supreme Court was largely expected to side with plaintiffs last year. However, the court ultimately deadlocked on the case after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia left the court with only eight members.
Local 320 is also continuing to reach out to its fair-share members, is conducting monthly new-member orientation programs at the local and is hosting right-to-work trainings across the state.
“We have all kinds of programs that we’re putting into place to make sure we’re organized from the inside,” said Aldes, who noted that the local is also focusing on 2018 because it’s such an important election year in Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the Public Services Division’s national Power-Building Plan is assisting locals in contacting and communicating with all fair-share payers across the country.
Local 117 in Seattle is also preparing for the Janus decision.
“We’ve got a 9,000-member internal organizing campaign that we’re running,” said John Scearcy, Local 117 Secretary-Treasurer. “We set up a website for the campaign that has an online pledge form, member stories, information about Janus and who is backing the case, and resources. We’re out in the field talking with members, training member leaders, distributing commitment cards and other activities.”
Sara Parcells, a building and grounds worker at the University of Minnesota, is one of the members who recommitted her membership to Local 320. She has worked at the university for 16 years.
“Being a Teamster is very important for my family,” said Parcells, a single mother with two children, 12 and 7. “It’s my livelihood. It’s what helps me get a good paycheck and benefits. Health care is very important for my family.”